The Teacher of Warsaw by Mario Escobar

This wonderful historical novel dramatizes the struggles of real life historical figures, Dr. Korczak and Irena Sendler, who worked to help the orphans of the Warsaw ghetto.

In an attempt to isolate and starve the Jews, the Germans enclosed Warsaw’s Jewish population within 1.3 square miles. Janusz’s orphanage and school was relocated within these borders.

At first he and his colleague, Stefa, are hopeful that life would more or less remain the same. They are quickly disillusioned, however, as the situation turns more and more dire.

Janusz sees the best qualities and the worst qualities of human nature on display. He sees Jews that turn on themselves–the Jewish police–and one German officer who has qualms about what the Nazis are doing.

The same officer urges Janusz to save himself yet the doctor refuses to abandon his orphans.

I loved this work of fiction that celebrates the real life hero, Dr. Janusz Korczak and his accomplishments.

The World That We Knew

A Jewish mother, Hanni, makes a sacrifice so her daughter may live. She, with the help of a rabbi’s daughter, brings to life a golem, Ava.

This is no ordinary golem in many respects; she is female, she speaks, and she has some feelings. Golems, which are born without a heart or soul, are not supposed to have feelings. 

The story moves back and forth between Ettie, the rabbi’s daughter, and Lea, the girl the golem was created to protect. Ettie becomes involved in the Jewish resistance, along with Victor and his brother, Lea’s soulmate, Julien.

This unique novel which uses magic realism captures the darkest hour in human history. Demons hide in trees and angels wander the earth. And then there’s Ava whose tattoo on her arm reads “truth.” She can speak to birds and has the strength of one hundred horsemen.

Ava can peer into the future; she knows what her ultimate fate will be. The truth is that Ava isn’t made by God. In a locket given to her by her mother, Lea has instructions on what she must do to the Golem.

The magical elements never detract though from the real story–the horror of the trains, the camps, the senseless killing.

If you want to read more about this book and the inspiration behind it, I recommend this article from the Jewish Women’s Archive by Karen Kashian, https://jwa.org/blog/bookclub/interview-alice-hoffman-about-world-we-knew 

The Plum Tree by Ellen Marie Wiseman

World War II-era fiction is popular right now but what makes this debut different portrays an ordinary German family. The incidents were inspired by the author’s own family. Wiseman’s mother’s family lived in Germany during the war. 

The story is centered around Christine and her desire to protect her family and her boyfriend who is Jewish.

The Plum Tree is about longing, loyalty, and incredible bravery of the people who fought injustice. 

For a time, resistance was simply leaving hard-boiled eggs in places where the Jewish prisoners could find them. 

Eventually, Christine hides Isaac in the family attic. Once he is discovered, though, both are sent to Dachau.

She receives one of the better jobs and works for one of the better captors. Even so, her stay in Dachau nearly kills her. 

Wiseman explains in an afterward which historical details were altered to fit the story.